Study of biologically active substances in Lychnis coronaria raw materials

Abstract

Introduction. Lychnis coronaria (L.) Murray ex Desr. is a plant of Caryophyllaceae family, which is grown in Ukraine as an ornamental plant. As for the study of its use in medicine, there is information that in traditional medicine the raw material of Lychnis coronaria is used for inflammatory processes, in particular inflammatory processes of the skin, liver diseases and hemorrhoids, as well as diarrhea, leprosy, lung diseases, and vitamin deficiency. Also, various scientists have established hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antihepatotoxic, antioxidant, antitumor and antiasthmatic activity for this plant. The chemical composition of Lychnis coronaria needs a more in-depth and systematic study. In our previous works, we started the study of phenolic compounds, but in order to understand the relationship between chemical composition and pharmacological activity, it is advisable to study other classes of biologically active substances. The aim of the work was to study phenolic substances by the spectrophotometric method, as well as steroid, triterpene and volatile compounds by the GC/MS method in the raw materials of Lychnis coronaria. Materials and methods. The research used herb, leaves, flowers and stems of Lychnis coronaria, which were harvested in the flowering phase in the Kharkiv region (Ukraine) in July - August 2021/2022. The quantitative content of flavonoids was determined by spectrophotometric method at a wavelength of 410 nm in terms of luteolin-7-glucoside according to the method of the monograph State Pharmacopoeia of Ukraine 2.0 "Chamomile flower^N". Quantitative content of the sum of polyphenols was determined by spectrophotometric method at a wavelength of 760 nm in terms of pyrogallol according to the method of the general article State Pharmacopoeia of Ukraine 2.0 "Determination of tannins in medicinal plant raw materials". The study of steroid substances, triterpenoids and volatile compounds was carried out by GC/MS method. Research results. The highest content of flavonoids was observed in flowers (1.63 %) and leaves (1.48 %) of Lychnis coronaria. The content was insignificant in the stems of the studied plant (0.71%). Regarding the amount of polyphenols, their maximum content was noted in the herb (7.85%), and the lowest - in the stems (4.87%). 13 compounds belonging to steroids and triterpenoids have been identified in Lychnis coronaria herb. The content was dominated by stigmasterol (54.22 mg/kg), as well as β-sitosterol (37.24 mg/kg) with a fairly high quantitative content. Triterpenoid coronoside B (3.56 mg/kg) was contained in a small amount. As a result of the conducted research, the presence of 12 steroids and triterpenoids was established in Lychnis coronaria leaves. Stigmast-5-en-3-one and β-sitosterol prevailed in terms of content - 33.78 mg/kg and 30.52 mg/kg, respectively. With regard to compounds with an insignificant content, campesterol should be noted - 1.74 mg/kg. 6 compounds classified as steroids and triterpenoids were identified in the flowers of the studied plant. Among the compounds with a high content, β-sitosterol, β-amyrin and stigmasterol were observed - 70.73 mg/kg, 58.41 mg/kg and 22.63 mg/kg, respectively. A small amount of coronoside B accumulated (1.89 mg/kg). In comparison with other types of raw materials, the fewest compounds, namely 4 steroids, were identified in the stems of Lychnis coronaria. Among the detected substances, cholest-7-en-6-one (23.36 mg/kg) was contained in the largest quantity, while spinasterol (3.34 mg/kg) was contained in the smallest quantity. Thus, based on the results of the research, it can be concluded that steroids and triterpenoids accumulate to a greater extent in the herb, leaves and flowers of Lychnis coronaria. As a result of the research, 12 volatile compounds related to monoterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids, as well as aromatic substances were identified in Lychnis coronaria herb. Among the dominant compounds in terms of content, β-ocimene (32.23 mg/kg) and β-caryophyllene (22.46 mg/kg) should be singled out. Minor amounts contained γ-carene (0.15 mg/kg). 8 volatile compounds were identified in the leaf of the studied plant, among which α-pinene, limonene, and β-ocimene dominated in content - 13.70 mg/kg, 11.64 mg/kg, and 10.11 mg/kg, respectively. γ-carene and myrcene were in small amounts - 0.35 mg/kg and 0.72 mg/kg, respectively. As a result of the experiment, 9 volatile components were identified in the flowers of Lychnis coronaria. The maximum content was observed in β-ocimene (49.87 mg/kg), slightly less β-caryophyllene (23.51 mg/kg). The lowest content was found in α-pinene (0.80 mg/kg). As a result of the experiment, 8 volatile components were identified in the stems of Lychnis coronaria. It was established that β-caryophyllene and α-phellandrene prevailed in terms of content (18.58 mg/kg and 12.92 mg/kg). There was a small amount of γ-carene (0.14 mg/kg). So, as a result, it was established that all the studied types of Lychnis coronaria raw materials contained volatile compounds, but their amount varied - they accumulated in larger quantities in Lychnis coronaria herb, leaves and flowers. Conclusions. Thus, with the help of the conducted array of experimental studies, information was deepened on the chemical composition of the raw materials of Lychnis coronaria, namely herb, leaves, flowers and stems. It was established that the accumulation of biologically active substances to a greater extent occurs in the leaves, flowers and herb of Lychnis coronaria. The obtained results can be used in the development of relevant sections of regulatory documentation for the standardization of the studied plant raw materials.

Keywords: Lychnis coronaria (L.) Murray Ex Desr., phenolic compounds, steroids, triterpenoids, volatile compounds, spectrophotometry, GC/MS